Self Isolation on Arrival in Australia

[JPA Cate]

Oceanride007, in addition to your document of your quarantine, I believe you will need a permit to re-enter Qld.

You may be able to deal with the Marina in advance, and may need to talk to someone else that whoever you have previously spoken with. But, especially if you own your berth, they should let you in. If you're in Gladstone Port Marina, I've found them to be reasonable, in the past.

But, Queensland has some harsh restrictions. Be prepared to accept an additional 14 day quarantine in Gladstone. It might all work better if you go straight through to Gladstone, weather permitting. It's not really all that far, in terms of 24 hour days, and they may be willing to apply your sea time off the quarantine period. Fwiw, the public health point of view is that they cannot guarantee (for themselves) that you shall not have been exposed between leaving the hotel and sailing in to them.

Ann

Ann

[Dash-Robo]

Point of note
Maritime Safety Q recognised sailing as a form of exercise and an essential reason to use your vessel

See daily updates
In this pandemic, MSQ asks skippers to be responsible, support the Chief Health Officer and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Some essential reasons you may need to use your boat could be to:
exercise (e.g. kayaking/sailing/paddling etc);
fish;
get to and from work, where the work cannot reasonably be performed from home;
get groceries; and
provide assistance, care or support to an immediate member of the person’s family.
Social distancing rules always apply – at the boat ramp and on your boat.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by Dash-Robo

Point of note
Maritime Safety Q recognised sailing as a form of exercise and an essential reason to use your vessel

See daily updates
In this pandemic, MSQ asks skippers to be responsible, support the Chief Health Officer and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Some essential reasons you may need to use your boat could be to:
exercise (e.g. kayaking/sailing/paddling etc);
fish;
get to and from work, where the work cannot reasonably be performed from home;
get groceries; and
provide assistance, care or support to an immediate member of the person’s family.
Social distancing rules always apply – at the boat ramp and on your boat.

Further: https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/About-us/...ment-Direction

Recreational boating in Queensland during the Home Confinement Direction

There are a range of scenarios where you may want to take a boat out.

Boaties should be aware that the information below is subject to change based on the latest advice from the Chief Health Officer.

Find the latest advice on the Queensland Government's COVID-19 site.

While we aim to answer your specific questions here,
the first question you should ask yourself is: do you need to take your boat out?

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer has been very clear—if you don’t need to be out then stay at home.

That is now the law.

The same rules that apply on land also apply in our waterways, bays and out at sea.

If you’re looking for a loophole to leave the home, then you probably shouldn’t be heading out.

That said, there are essential reasons along Queensland’s long and populated coastline where people need their boat – like fishing, exercise, going shopping, or getting to work.

The current rules don’t seek to stop boat owners using their boats for essential reasons.

Boaties should stay as local as possible, and social distancing rules apply, at the boat ramp and on your boat.

This notice is to provide further clarity around boating in Queensland in line and complying with the Home Confinement Direction that applies to all residents of Queensland.

Boating infrastructure
State government boat ramps are open.

Using your boat
You can go out in your boat, to travel to and from work or home, for exercise or to fish.

The social distancing rules everyone is being asked to follow still apply.

If you don’t need to be out, then stay at home.

Fishing
You can go fishing, but stick to local waters.

The social distancing and personal hygiene rules everyone has been asked to follow still apply – at the boat ramp and onboard.

Transport—for work and food
If you normally use your boat to travel to and from work, and you can’t work from home, you can continue to travel to work in your boat.

If you would normally use your boat to get groceries or essential provisions, you can continue to do so. Queenslanders living on remote island communities often use their boats for everyday transport.

Exercise
Many people sail, swim, stand up paddle board or kayak for sport.

Social distancing rules apply on the water as they apply on land.

Liveaboard boats
If your boat is your home, you can continue to live onboard but now isn't the time to move out to your boat as this creates additional risks to the community.

For example, you may need to go shopping for additional supplies, you may get sick and need people to transfer you from the boat to the shore.

The direction is for you to stay home, unless you need to go out for essential activities.

Business reasons
If operating a recreational boat is an essential activity for your business (such as testing a vessel for your boat building company or boat dealership) you may continue to do so.

You must continue to apply social distancing. If you cannot meet social distancing onboard the boat, avoid the activity.

Marine rescue groups
All agencies and rescue groups are following the Chief Health Officer directions within their own work areas. All emergencies will be dealt with as a matter of priority, but less urgent incidents may potentially take longer to respond to.

Compliance and enforcement
We’re relying on boat users to exercise common sense. If you don’t need to be out on the water, then stay at home. Only boaties who have a legitimate reason should be out on the water.

Authorities will talk to those out on the water and communicate the requirements to them. We need everyone to help with the community response to COVID-19, and that means limiting the time you spend away from your home as much as possible.

Queensland Health, Queensland Water Police Service, Maritime Safety Queensland and Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol all have responsibility to monitor behaviour on the water.

Further Information
Detailed information about the operation of a Queensland regulated ship is available at the Maritime Safety Queensland website.

For further information contact your local Maritime Safety Queensland office:

Airlie Beach 4841 4500
Bundaberg 4132 6600
Cairns 4052 7400
Gladstone 4971 5200
Hervey Bay 4194 9600
Mackay 4944 3700
Mooloolaba 5373 2310
Brisbane 3632 7500
Gold Coast 5585 1810
Townsville 4421 8100

I perceive the point is well made and stated.

[Chimere53]

Thank you to everyone for your contributions to my question. My contact at Aust Border Force informed me via email yesterday that they count the time at sea towards the self-isolation requirement, from the day you leave the international port, HOWEVER, each state in Australia seem to be treating arrivals by small craft differently and the Dept Health Vic. do not count the time at sea, but from day of arrival. Which means the 14 days in a hotel on arrival paid for by the Govt, as some have correctly said.

I asked how many yachts or small craft have been cleared into Melbourne under these regs, and they said none yet.

I'm thinking the Dept of Health see yachts as "cruise ships", and being such a small sub-set of the overall number of travelers haven't had to look at the situation in any depth.

One specialist doctor I know, who is advising Govt in this field currently suggested I'd probably get different answers from the Health Dept, depending on who I spoke with.

Border Force gave me the details of a key person in the Health Dept so I've presented my situation to them, and explained everything and have requested an exemption etc. I'm not holding my breath.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to comply with self isolation on arrival if required. It's just a bit unnecessary if I've done 14 days at sea and am healthy on arrival. (And I've already done 16 days self isolation aboard here in Wellington to date)

My immediate problem, however, is getting crew to assist with the voyage.

In the meantime I've booked a flight home in 2wks, on one of the last flights out, and will leave my yacht here in the marina if I don't find crew within 7-10 days.

As an aside, NZ Customs will clear me out so long as I have a crew that have permanent residence status in Aust, and the borders are still open in the port to which I'm headed

Thanks again everyone for your interest.

Rob

[Chimere53]

Originally Posted by philiosophy

I am dieing to know how how you came to be arriving in Australia at this time? May I ask where you left from and when? Best of luck to you and your crew.

Greetings, I'm just doing my homework, prior to leaving Wellington, NZ. And I will only be able to leave NZ if I can find a couple of (Aust Resident) crew, who also just happen to be currently living near Wellington.